5 Fun Yoga Games to Play After a Session

Yoga with kids can become so much more dynamic and creative when they are able to choose what activity they want to do and how they want to do it.

Below are a range of activities for children that suit diverse personalities:

1. Yoga Freeze Dance (2+ participants)

Play some music and dance. When the music stops, quickly get into a yoga asana you learned that day or in previous sessions. Continue, trying to come up with a new asana each time.

2. Meditation Art (1+ participants)

This activity is great for those who prefer quieter or more artistic activities. It is one I've created after observing that quite a few of the children I taught preferred independent activities. After a meditation session, take a piece of paper and draw out what you envisioned or were thinking about while mediating. I recommend this activity to older children or adolescents because meditation in isn't usually as captivating for younger children who are extremely active and have shorter attention spans, and the long periods of quiet "introspection" may not connect with them.

3. Create Your Asana (2+ participants)

This is another game I created after considering how I could add more creativity and leadership to yoga for children. Here, a person calls out an object, and the children have to create their own asana that they believe represents or mimics the object. This can be in terms of shape, size, appearance, or spirit. This one gets a lot of children excited as they compare their interpretation to their peers'.

4. Pass on the Ball (4+ participants)

This is an activity I learned while training as a Children's Yoga Teacher, and it works best in a class full of ideally 5 or more students. Lining the yoga mats to create a circle, lift the legs in a 45 degree angle, elbows on the mat. With a ball in between the feet, try passing the ball on without moving the lower back. For a challenge, try throwing the ball across the circle using your legs. This activity engages the core, improves balance, coordination, and teamwork, and strengthens the lower back, which are all essential skills for yoga and beyond.

5. Coffee-Noodle-Pizza (2+ participants)

This is another activity I learned while training. This isn't related to yoga asanas but emphasizes coordination and concentration, which, although not evident, is an important aspect of yoga. Create hand gestures for each of the three food items. When a person calls out an item, perform that gesture. The person can vary the food item they call out and change the pace. The idea is to keep up with the correct gesture each time until someone stumbles.